MILWAUKEE -- Slowly but surely, Jackson Chourio and Andrew Vaughn are getting closer to restoring some of the right-handed thump missing lately from the Brewers’ lineup.
Both players are on the 10-day injured list with left hand injuries -- Chourio a small fracture at the base of his middle finger, and Vaughn a fractured hamate bone that required surgical removal. Both got good news during visits with their doctors on Thursday’s off-day.
Chourio underwent imaging that showed his fracture is healing, though he did not get clearance to resume hitting just yet. Instead, he was scheduled to run the bases and play catch ahead of Friday’s series opener against the Nationals at American Family Field.
“We’re progressing, and in general everything is better,” Chourio said via interpreter Daniel de Mondesert. “Hopefully here soon, I’ll be able to come back. Still not cleared for hitting, but little by little, we’re adding more things.”
Chourio won’t need any more imaging before he’s cleared to hit, according to manager Pat Murphy. At the moment, the medical staff is most worried about the force that would be applied to Chourio’s hand on a check swing, so they ordered more time.
“They’re satisfied with the rate it’s healing and there’s no reason for it to stop,” Murphy said.
Vaughn, meanwhile, spent Thursday having his stitches removed by Dr. Tony LoGiudice, the surgeon who removed the fractured bone on March 30.
“If you’ve seen his incision, what’s really important is that it heals,” Murphy said. “Once that heals, you can do as much as you want. He’s a lot weaker in that hand right now, so we’ll build that back up. There’s a chance of tendinitis and all that other stuff if you do too much too soon.”
The Brewers have hung in there so far against left-handed pitching despite missing those key right-handed bats, going 3-1 in games started by lefties. The challenge is most evident in team slugging percentage, which was .427 against right-handers and .336 against left-handers going into Friday night.
Is it hard to be away?
“I’m just staying positive and looking forward to being back soon,” Chourio said.
Sproat stays in rotation
The Brewers made some changes to their weekend pitching rotation, bumping Brandon Sproat from Saturday’s scheduled start against the Nationals in favor of lefty Kyle Harrison on Saturday and righty Brandon Woodruff on Sunday. Thursday’s off-day allowed the Brewers to make that adjustment and still have those pitchers on regular rest.
Sproat, who last pitched in Kansas City in relief of call-up Logan Henderson in Saturday’s doubleheader at Kansas City, was in the bullpen in Boston on Wednesday and was available in relief if needed Friday night against Washington.
But he’s still one of the Brewers’ regular starters, Murphy said.
“He’s still in our rotation. It’s just the way things have worked out,” Murphy said. “Sometimes this happens when you’ve got the extra off-days. Sproat will pitch, and he will be back in the rotation. … You guys know we’re very inexperienced on the hill. When you’re trying to thread the needle, these are the types of things you do.”